The probationer officer was later found in a ditch nearby by firefighters using a thermal imaging camera. He is now being investigated by his own force, who have also notified Fiosru, the policing watchdog.
05:00, 29 Nov 2025Updated 09:46, 29 Nov 2025
The probationer garda is now suspended following the incident on the M1 (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Gardai have suspended a rookie member of the force after his car was found abandoned on a major motorway – and he was discovered nearby in a ditch.
We have also learned that gardai are now carrying out their own investigation into the incident – but have also notified independent policing watchdog Fiosru.
“We are trying to get to the bottom of the whole thing,” a source told us.
The force said it notified Fiosru as it deemed it to be a matter of concern. We have also learned that the probationer officer was off duty when the incident happened.
The probationer garda is now suspended following the incident on the M1 close to Drogheda in Co Louth in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The drama began when gardai received a call early on Saturday to say that a car was abandoned in a driving lane of the M1 northbound, close to an exit for Drogheda.
Officers rushed to the scene, but found nobody in the vehicle.
It’s understood firefighters were then called in to help gardai at the scene and a search was carried out of the wider area.
Sources tell us firefighters used a thermal imaging camera as part of the search and located the off duty probationer – who is serving in a station outside the area where the incident happened – in a ditch about 100 metres away.
He was then brought to Our Lady Of Lourdes’ Hospital for treatment for non-life-threatening injuries – but later discharged himself.
Gardai have established that the garda’s private car had been involved in a collision with another vehicle at the scene.
It’s understood the driver of the other car continued on his journey and later took an exit off the motorway nearby.
Gardai are now investigating the incident and are trying to find out exactly what happened.
The force confirmed to us that a collision took place and an officer was subsequently suspended.
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It said in a statement: “Gardaí are investigating a two-vehicle road traffic collision that occurred on the M1 Northbound near Drogheda, Co. Louth at approximately 2:00am on Saturday, 22nd November 2025.
“A male aged in his 30s was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
“A member of An Garda Síochána has been placed on suspension in connection with this investigation
“In accordance with Section 204 of the PSCS Act, An Garda Síochána has notified Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, of this matter as an incident of concern.”
We contacted Fiosru but it declined to comment.
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